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Acquisitions, Divestitures and Exchanges, exchanges (Details) (USD $) | 3 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Exchanges |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges | $ (91,446,000) |
Carrying value | 1,448,598,000 | 1,423,779,000
U.S. Cellular |  |
Exchanges |  |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges | (91,446,000) |
U.S. Cellular | Spectrum exchange |  |
Exchanges |  |
Agreement date | Feb. 14, 2014 |
Asset exchange description | On February 14, 2014, U.S. Cellular completed an exchange whereby U.S. Cellular received one E block PCS spectrum license covering Milwaukee, WI in exchange for one D block PCS spectrum license covering Milwaukee, WI. The exchange of licenses provided U.S. Cellular with spectrum to meet anticipated future capacity and coverage requirements. No cash, customers, network assets, other assets or liabilities were included in the exchange. As a result of this transaction, TDS recognized a gain of $15.7 million, representing the difference between the $15.9 million fair value of the license surrendered, calculated using a market approach valuation method, and the $0.2 million carrying value of the license surrendered. This gain was recorded in (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014. |
(Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges | (15,700,000) |
Fair value | 15,900,000 |
Carrying value | $ 200,000 |
Asset exchange, valuation method | market approach valuation method |

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- Definition Date the license exchange agreement was executed, in CCYY-MM-DD format. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition Carrying amount (original costs adjusted for previously recognized amortization and impairment) as of the balance sheet date for the capitalized costs to acquire rights under a license arrangement (for example, to sell specified products in a specified territory) having an indefinite period of benefit. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 350 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26713463&loc=d3e16323-109275 + Details
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